Meet Nicole McKenzie – Faces of Baptcare #34 - Carer Extraordinaire

Meet Nicole McKenzie, one of Baptcare’s Delivery Service Leads, responsible for supporting many of our team of over 400 carers.

1. What is your role at Baptcare, and can you describe a typical day in your job?

   My role here at Baptcare is Delivery Support Lead. I’m here to support, mentor and guide our Carers.

   I’m here to ensure they are working safe and in a safe environment, ensuring they are happy and that they have the most amazing experience here on their journey at Baptcare.

2. What do you like about working with Baptcare and in the In Home Care space?

   I love the family feel here at Baptcare and I feel honoured and blessed in my role to be able to be that person to make a difference in so many carer’s lives so they do not feel alone out there on the front line.

3. Can you share a particularly special work day you’ve had recently?

   Every day with my carers is a special day. I am lucky enough to have phone calls, texts, emails weekly from my carers telling me how supported they feel and how they are so happy to have me there supporting them. This warms my heart and is very fulfilling. This is why I am in this particular role: because I truly care for my staff ( or ‘The Dream Team’, as I call them).

4. Did you always want to work within the caring space?

   I moved from NZ 10 years ago and as soon as I arrived I had this feeling of needing to help more people. I got into aged care and it has been the most rewarding journey and I couldn’t imagine working in any other industry. I think that I’ve found my calling.

5. What did you want to be when you grew up?

   Well – funny story – when I was a child I always said, “ Mum I want to help everybody and I don’t want anyone to be lonely so I want to talk to everyone and make them laugh.” Well, my mother laughed as she told me her first thoughts were “Oh no – she will chat their ears off with her chatter.” But I always knew caring for others was something I wanted to do.

6. Can you tell us 2 surprising things about yourself?

   Firstly, I don’t eat any cooked vegetables (said with a screwed up face).

   Secondly, I am petrified of spiders (any creatures with more or less legs than me!! That is a No from me!)

7. Do you have a favourite quote or motto in life?

   “Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody.”

8. How would your friends describe you?

   Caring, loving, happy vibes to be around, always there for you and would give you the shirt off her back.

9. Do you have a mentor or idol?

My sister is my idol, my rock, my world. She is beautiful inside and out.